Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Five Palestinian families north of occupied East Jerusalem have been ordered to leave their homes ahead of planned demolitions by Israeli authorities, with one household given only 24 hours to evacuate, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.
Four of the properties are in the Coptic neighborhood of Al-Ram, while another stands near the Jaba military checkpoint. Residents of the Al-Ram homes were reportedly given two days to leave.
The latest orders come amid continuing demolitions and land-clearing operations affecting Palestinian properties in and around Jerusalem. The governorate recorded 40 such operations during August alone.
Restrictions have also increased at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The governorate said about 15 orders barring Palestinians from the compound were issued during the first six days of September.
Those orders brought the governorate’s documented total for 2026 to about 800. It said most restrictions earlier in the year were imposed in the period surrounding Ramadan.
The governorate attributed the latest increase to heightened restrictions ahead of Jewish holidays beginning in September. Israeli authorities have frequently cited security considerations in imposing access restrictions around the Al-Aqsa compound, while Palestinians have criticized such measures as limiting access to the Muslim holy site.
Home demolitions and settlement expansion remain major sources of tension in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The United Nations and most of the international community consider Israeli settlements in territory occupied since 1967 illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.
Violence across the West Bank has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with Israeli military raids, Palestinian attacks and violence by Israeli settlers contributing to worsening instability across the occupied territory.